My Golden Life Broadcast Commemorative Event Japan

UPDATED WITH PHOTOS FROM THE PRESS

Caution: Long article and only in English as it was in the wee hours of this morning that I managed to finish up this article! No photography is allowed during the event, so you will not get anything taken of the event except where allowed.

Yesterday was a special day for me, spent in the delightful company of Park Sihoo-ssi and fellow sister fans of our favorite man. Not only that, it was also delightful to watch the camaraderie between Park Sihoo-ssi and his reel secretary Liubi in real life! 

Yes, I was there at Park Sihoo-ssi’s KBS “My Golden Life” Commemorative Broadcasting event held in Shinjuku, Japan on 20 April 2018. For two performances yesterday, both which I enjoyed tremendously and which gave me better insights into our favorite man – hearing information from the horse’s mouth himself as well as forming my own impressions!

This article will focus on the afternoon event which was titled “Meeting with Dokyung”. There is another article for the evening performance, so check this out too!

The usual sponsor messages came on the big screen just before the start of the afternoon performance. Usually, I would switch my mind off until the performance actually starts, but yesterday was an exception. I was drawn to the video promoting Park Sihoo-ssi’s exclusive magazine, Enishi. It was such a refreshing and delightful video clip that I am so looking forward to the magazine’s Volume 2 for 2018 which would be out shortly and I will receive my pile of magazines in the mail. Yes, me, myself and I got quite a few copies so that I will have back-ups in case any got damaged or lost or I can give away. If you don’t get a copy and everything runs out, you will be kicking yourself!

The lights dimmed and then the curtains were drawn, presented under a spotlight was a black silhouette of a man sitting atop an executive chair. As the audience expected, it was none other than Oppa Choi Dokyung who twirled his chair around and stood up! The first thing he asked was “Where are you Jian?”

And then he went up and down the audience looking for his Jian! From Korea to now Japan! Well, he saw so many Jians or Jian look-a-likes it was fascinating to him, he said!

It has been a while since Park Sihoo-ssi did a drama promotion. The last one was for KBS’ “The Princess Man” in 2012, many years ago. He thanked his fans for their support and was glad that they like his latest drama, KBS “My Golden Life”.

KBS Drama Youtube: Episode 34 “My Golden Life”: First time chef cooking seaweed soup 24 December 2017

The audience had chosen what they considered were the best three scenes of “My Golden Life” that tore at their emotional heartstrings. At No 3 spot was the scene when Oppa Choi Dokyung cooked seaweed soup for Seo Jian for her birthday. His first attempt at cooking with an injured hand won the audience’s hearts. The second best scene voted was that of the couple’s first kiss, which was also a farewell kiss when Oppa Choi and Seo Jian bade farewell, knowing that shortly when the explosive news came that Seo Jian was not Haesung’s daughter and that it was all a lie, all hell would break lose. And the No 1 best scene was when Oppa Choi rushed up the mountains to rescue Seo Jian from freezing to death as she had gone out to look for the dye craftsman wearing insufficient clothes for the sudden, extreme drop in temperature.

KBS Youtube Video – Episode 17: Oppa to the rescue 28 October 2017 

From Park Sihoo-ssi’s perspective, he liked the scene of the first kiss. He shared that he was satisfied with how the scene turned out. When they shot the scene, the producer had not decided how the setting would be and how they were going to film it. They had a group discussion and finally decided to take a frontal approach. Everything fell into place and so beautifully.

Park Sihoo-ssi was requested by the emcee to express how he interpreted the scene in drawing! When he was young some 30 years ago, he used to draw regularly but have not done that ever since! What? You mean since you were ten, Oppa? The emcee comforted him and said that whatever he drew, his audience would love and appreciate his effort. They would interpret it in their own way. So our man attempted it, twice, smiling to himself as he drew. Not satisfied with the first rendition, he did a second. And then his art was revealed to the audience. 

KBS Youtube Video – Episode 18: First and farewell kiss 29 October 2017

Lips! And he explained that in that scene, lips were most important as it was a kissing scene, a perfect interlocking of two lips. And whose lips had he drawn, he was asked. To which his reply was, if they were Jian’s then he would feel really sorry for her! Nice luscious lips, Oppa! Kekeke!

The three best weepy or emotional scenes voted were at third place, the scene when after searching for Jian for a long time, Oppa Choi finally found her in Seon Woohyeok’s car. He had  intercepted the car, got out, open the car door and told her to get out. In second was when Oppa Choi gave Seo Jian a pendant for her birthday, a hard earned gift he had gone out of the way, working hard and laboriously on two jobs to be able to afford this simple, but inexpensive present. And at first place, the first kiss once again.

Park Sihoo-ssi shared that the many temporary jobs Oppa Choi took on in the drama, from being an odd job cleaner in the gym, to a courier packer, to a labour for a departmental store all reminded him of his own real life jobs during his younger days. Choi Dokyung worked on these temporary jobs and even got injured all because he wanted to buy Seo Jian a pendant for her birthday. And he rendered his interpretation of this scene…again, drawing twice before he was satisfied. The emcee thought he would draw a hand, but she was incorrect. He drew instead a pendant with a heart and then perfecting the incomplete circle of the pendant to make this picture perfect. Good job, Oppa! You are a perfectionist at work!

Then it was Oppa fashion and what was voted as favorite or best wear. Oppa’s choice of clothes from wearing the simplest outfit for a wood workshop worker to a courier packer, gym worker, casual best to suits! Oppa, your choice of best wear is very much in synch with mine! I love you in a suit best! So well balanced, so dashing, the dream executive in a suite. I swooned each and every time I see executive Choi and love, love, love the scene when he stood up for election against his uncle for the role of Chairman of Haesung Group! Wowee!

The stylist had done an outstanding job choosing the many outfits for the drama. Park Sihoo-ssi would review what to wear for each scene. However, as the drama unfolded and the schedule tightened and got very hectic, it was literally being dressed and styled, and then straight to shoot, no chance to even review and change! The director didn’t like that one thick coat which he wore when he went dating with Seo Jian and called it a grandmother’s coat! 

Then it was a rather long video showing so many scenes of the ups and downs, joy and sorrowful of Oppa Choi. Scenes of the happy Paju Art Village with their retro settings when he and Seo Jian took stock of what could be interesting for the Haesung 40th anniversary celebration. The first kiss. Oppa being taught how to operate a washing machine, the different expressions of Oppa Choi…so many scenes and photos that brought back the fascinating, multi-faceted sides of this loveable character and his transformation. Park Sihoo-ssi shared that the change in Oppa Choi, especially from the first to the second half of the drama was very much following the script. Many of the actions were not planned but very spontaneous and reactive to what was written.

A video was shown of the lighter side of things during the time of the drama filming and foodie Park Sihoo-ssi’s at his favorite past time. Food! Eating on the set, between sets and off the set. Oppa’s favorite food and which he thought was yummilicious was actually the Namdaemun spicy stewed fish! Whoa! From shunning it to loving it. What a change! Sisters, you really must try this dish then, as it came specially recommended by Oppa!

Rrrring!…suddenly the phone sounded on stage! Huh? The emcee picked up the phone. “Hello?”

Ah, it was Secretary Liu or Liubi who called and he was on the way to the event! And then he suddenly made his entrance from the back of the audience.

Woo Hoo! Secretary Liu in person and he looked gorgeous! Oh, don’t worry Oppa, you still look the best and you will always be our favorite! No competition at all!

Secretary Liu shared that he was nervous to be on stage as he had never done it before. But it felt good to think that he was in the limelight. Since his experience with the snack truck event organised by Park Sihoo-ssi fans he had been envious! His trips to Japan had always been for vacation and he never dreamt of a fan meeting the magnitude of Park Sihoo-ssi’s. Park Sihoo-ssi revealed that it was because of what Secretary Liu said that he brought him to Japan. If he hadn’t said that, he wouldn’t have been here!

A video was shown of Oppa Choi and Liubi’s many encounters in the drama. From the lighter moments to the emotional touching scenes. Both men were complementary to each other and the chemistry was evident! Secretary Liu or Actor Lee Kyubok’s favorite scene was when Oppa had left home, stayed in his apartment overnight and left the family money which he could barely afford. Knowing that he was not using his handphone because he was afraid to let his whereabout be known, Liubi wanted to buy him a new phone with the money. But Oppa Choi was dead-set against it, to which Liubi acted as stubborn as a bull. They were asked to re-enact this scene for the audience.

Both could not remember their lines and had to take peeks that their scripts…which they placed strategically so that they could “cheat” and peek at whenever they forgot. When they got NGs, they blamed each other. Oppa defended himself and said he had far too many lines compared to Liubi. And Liubi revealed that this kind of exchanges happened often between them and what they acted on stage reflected what actually happened while filming and often! He felt that because he is a new actor, Park Sihoo-ssi,. his Hyeong, had often purposely caused NGs to give him a chance to rehearse, lighten up the atmosphere and make things more comfortable for him. Park Sihoo-ssi retorted that he didn’t do anything on purpose and tried to explain the situation…hmmm, but the more he tried to explain, the more he became unbelievable. Now, what was he talking about?

Rrrringg! Suddenly Liubi’s phone rang. Ahhh..he had to go for another fan meeting, so he bade his farewell. But his boss Oppa Choi got upset! Hey, I haven’t said you can go yet! Oh, okay, I relent, you can go but you have to sing. Show how good you are with your past as a part of a band. You can sing as you leave. And Liubi did! What a delightful voice! Delightful man, indeed!

Then Oppa Choi went looking for Jian again, doing the funky up and down the stage, before coming back for the XOXO game. Geez so many questions asked and yet, the number of audience left standing was still plenty, so in the end, the winner was determined by scissors, paper, stone! The winner got to “romance” with Oppa performing the Namdaemum high kick. Oppa had to do this a few times due to complaints that the kick not high enough! Poor Oppa…but finally he did well at the click of the instant camera! Phew! Good keepsake for the winner!

Then presents were given to eight people drawn on stage, from autographed posters to scripts before it was free for all photo taking of Oppa on stage for all of a minute! Sorry, I was too far at Row 15 to get any good shots, so don’t have any to post! And then it was a group photo of Oppa with the audience. Big audience! Mr Photographer, did you get us all in?

The finale had Oppa Choi break into song “When the wind blows” which was one of the theme songs or OST for “My Golden Life”. Excellent choice! Excellent voice! I want to hear it again…and better still get a copy of this single when it goes on sale! I would certainly enjoy hearing Oppa’s rich baritone over and over again!  

We could not have encore due to the time so had to troop out of the event hall. Oppa Choi was there to bid us all farewell at the door. But he stood a little distance away because they didn’t want to have a stampede! Oppa’s just too delightful and irresistible! Woo Hoo!

See you in the evening! Looking forward to the next performance when Oppa Park Sihoo shares his room with a view!

Credits – Many thanks! KBS Japan, KBS Drama, Korepo, Park Sihoo Japan Official Fan Club, Mentor,  navicon.jp, ParkSihooSsi.com

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